Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Endocrinology | The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Our research aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people with a range of chronic problems such as diabetes, obesity, liver disease and loss of muscle strength.

We study hormones, using a range of new models from cell culture through to human clinical studies to understand the processes underlying disease and find ways of preventing and treating these increasingly common conditions.

Diseases we research

Diabetes
Obesity
Liver diseases
Loss of muscle strength function

Our research themes:

Our diabetes research focuses on the biology of beta-cells – the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin – and the islets where they live. We study islet transplantation, beta-cell survival and beta-cell function – with a particular focus on ARNT and HIF-1a.

Another theme of our research is the role of vitamin D deficiency in liver disease. We are studying how vitamin D affects progression of cirrhosis and liver fibrosis, the regeneration of the liver after injury, and survival of liver cells after liver toxins.

We are also studying adipose tissue (different types of fat tissue) and its role in obesity and the metabolic consequences that it entails.

Research Teams

Adipose Tissue and Obesity Group

Our research is tackling the epidemic from a new angle by investigating the potential of different types of fat tissue (‘adipose tissue’) to protect patients from the serious metabolic consequences of obesity such as insulin resistance and adult-onset diabetes.

Beta-cell Biology Group

We are studying islet transplantation, which is a potential cure for type 1 diabetes, as well as beta-cell survival and beta-cell function.

Vitamin D and Liver Group

Vitamin D deficiency is becoming more common, even in Australia, with people spending less time outdoors and being more careful to avoid excess sun exposure. It is clear that people with liver diseases are more likely to be vitamin D deficient. More importantly, we think that vitamin D deficiency makes many liver diseases progress faster and increases liver-cell damage with insults to the liver.